When the school day is over you would be right in thinking that it’s time to relax, put your feet up and have a quick cuppa before making a lovely home cooked dinner...
However, for many of us, that cosy scene is permanently on hold as the busiest part of our day is about to begin.
Rather like Superman, or Wonder Woman, on the stroke of the school bell we are suddenly transformed into glorified taxi drivers, super snack specialists and all round fetchers and carriers. We rush from A to B, then from B to C and then back to A again before you can say Jack Robinson.
Sometimes we do all this whilst reciting times tables, spellings and how volcanoes work, to children wriggling out of their uniforms and into various outfits in the back of the car - because we only have those precious few minutes to do so.
So what is that makes us become such crazy crash and burn creatures? Hobbies of course!
We all want our children to try new things, have lots of different experiences and find enjoyment in something other than television or those pesky ipads. It’s for this reason that I am all for extra-curricular activities. We’ve tried (deep breath) horseriding, dancing, gymnastics and flute, singing, karate and drama, to name but a few.
As such, I am a regular on the roads in the evenings. You’ll spot me, or hear me, screeching around various corners as I dash against the clock to somewhere or other.
Yes, hobbies can be a stress-inducing affair, especially if you hate being late like I do. But on the flipside, there is also something quite tranquil about sitting in a car park and reading a few pages of your book (or playing candy crush whilst pretending to check work emails - you know who you are!)
Despite the fact that most of the above listed activities have been tried, tested and ditched, I am still a believer in having a go.
However, if your little one isn’t keen on stretching her limbs beyond where they should stretch, or performing on stage clad in head-to-toe glitter, then I have one word to say to you.
Brownies.
This has always been the stalwart in our house. The failsafe in a field of also rans.
You can’t argue with a game of rounders and a sing song now can you? Much more do-able than a backward walkover on the beam or a grade 8 piano concerto in D don’t you think? And the clincher? You’ll get a good hour and a half to finish that book of yours...